Railway track switch controlling apparatus



June 13, 1950 E. M. ALLEN l RAILWAY TRACK SWITCH coNTRoLLING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 17, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FWMMS -1, mi m Rw@ .MM5

www AN. Tmwmw Rm w Aww www1@ A@ nw Rwwww .EMMA E A. mwws .la TIIIIILL INVENTOR.

` Tap HIS Wam/Ey E. M. ALLEN RAILWAY TRACK SWITCH CONTROLLING APPARATUS June 13, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 17, 1947 INVENTOR.

m @Quran mgm l?. lezz.

Patented June 13, 1950 UNITED STATESv PATENT voFFl'cra RAILWAY TRACK SWITCH CONTROLILIG c. APPARATUS. I

Earl M. Allen, Chicago, Ill., assignor 4to The Union Switch and Signal Company, Swissvale, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania.

Appueation January 17, 1947, Serin No. 722,519

control lever, is employed for at times transfer-` ring operation of a track switch from power apparatus to manually operable apparatus, is the provision of a pick-up circuit for a locking stickV relay controlled by a switch locking relay in conjunction with the dual control lever, The switch locking vrelay is normally energized, and is arranged to become deenergized when a signal forany route which includes the switch is cleared, and to then remain deenergized while a train occupies the route between the signal and the switch.

A Vfurther feature of my invention in conjunction with the locking stick relay is the provision of a normal polar contact of apolar stick relay in the pick-up and stick circuits for an approach locking relay associated with a signal which is controlled in part by a, reverse `polar contact of the same polar stick relay. With this arrangement, if the dual control lever for a switch is placed inthe position for manual operation of the switch, thereby causing an associated signal to change its indication from proceed to stop, and' if the dual control lever is later restored to thepositionV for power operation of the switch, the leverman at the remote control point must return the signal control lever to the'normal position to energize the approach locking relay before the signal can again be cleared.

' I shall describe one form of apparatus embodying my invention, and shall then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

The accompanying drawings, Figs. 1a and lb, when placed side by side, with the upper edge of Fig. 1b adjacent the lower edge of Fig. la, constitutea diagrammatic view showing one form of apparatus embodying my invention, in which a layout' of switches and signals in an interlocking plant is shown, together with control and indication circuits for a switch which is provided with. a dual control lever, control and in-A relay controlled by'a'i switch locking r-la`y` in conv junction' with a dua'control lever; and control 8 Claims. (Cl. 2 46-160) of, or in addition to, the letter T, connected across 2 circuits for approach locking relays, route locking relays, and switch locking relays.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of the views. l

In the drawings, contacts operated by the vari-l ous relays or other devices are identied by Vnumbers, such numbers having distinguishing pre--U Xes from which'they are separated by adash when the contacts of track relays are shown apart from the relay'by'which they are operated.

The prex for each ofthese contact numbers comprises thev reference character for the relay by which the associated contact is operated. For

example, contact REBAR-IS, shownin a pickup-v circuit for relay .RSBALS in Fig. 1b,is identied by the number l5 kseparated by, a dash from the preX`R58AR which is the Areference character for relay RESAR by which this contact is op-1 erated. n

Referring rst to Fig. la, two parallel tracks are shown interconnected by a crossover including track switches designated bythe reference` Two single switches, designated by the reference characters 55 and characters A51 andl B51.

59, are also shown in one of the tracks.

"The tracks are divided by insulated joints 5 to Y form switch sections, designated by the-reference" characters 55T,51T and 59T, and approach sec- Y tions, designated by the reference characters j R`5`8AT and LBBAT, associated with signals R158 and L66, respectively. Each of these track sec tions `is provided with a track circuit' including a suitable source of current, such, for example, as a battery 6 connected across the rails adjav cent one end of the section, and a track relay,

designated by areference character which is'the same'as the reference character for itstrack-section except that it includes theletter R instead the rails adjacent the-opposite end of the-section. Traffic movements toward the left, as shown psite or eastbound direction are governed by signals L58, L and L66.

semaphore or the searchlight type.

Each of the track switchesl may be operated from each of its extreme positions nto the other by any suitable manually controllable power operated means such, for example, as a motorrM having an armature I and a eld winding 2,

shown for switch 59. Manually operable'means s'ch, for example, as a lever MV, is also pro The signals may be g of any-suitable designsuch, for example, as the vided for at times operating switch 59 manually. A selector device such, for example, as a dual control or selector lever DV having a normal position n and a reverse position r, is provided with means such, for example, as a link 3 for transferring operation of the switch from motor M to lever MV and from lever MV back to motor M. As shown in the drawing, link 3, which is operable by lever DV, is in its normal position because lever DV is in its 1L position for arranging switch 59 for operation by motor M. When lever DV is moved to its r position, link 3 will be moved to its reverse position for adapting switch 59 for operation by manually operable lever MV.

Motor M may be controlled through suitable control apparatus C from a remote point by a manually operable device such, for example, as a switch lever '59V having a normal position n and a reverse position r for controlling operation of switch 59 to its normal and reverse positions, respectively. The control of apparatus C by lever 59V may be effected in any suitable manner such, for example, 'as by time code apparatus shown and described in Letters Patent of the United States No. 2,273,383 granted February 17, 1942 to Clarence S. Snavely and Alfred B. Miller for Remote control system.

Operated in conjunction with switch 59 is a circuit controller contact 4 which, when switch 59 is in the normal position, as shown, closes a circuit for a normal switch indication relay 59NP, and which, when switch 59 is in its reverse position, closes aV circuit for a reverse switch indication relay ESRP. Switch indication relay 5INP for switch B51 is controlledby a switch circuit controller contact similarly to relay 59N?, and relays 55RP and STRP are controlled similarly to relay BQRP.

A switch` indication lamp 59E is controlled by relays 59NP and 59RP and by lever 59V.

A polar stick control relay RESHS, shown in Fig. lb, for signals R58 is controlled by a manually operable signal lever 58V through any suitable medium such, for example, as the time code apparatus previously referred to. Lever 58V has a normal position n and reverse positions f and r. Polar stick relays for controlling -the other signals shown, including relay LSSI-IS for signals L66 may be controlled similarly to relay R58HS.

vA signal indication relay RSRP, shown in Fig. 1a, is controlled in conjunction with signals R58 so as to be energized only when these signals indicate stop. Signal indication relay L6 GRP for signals L55 is controlled similarly to relay R58RP.

A locking stick relay 59WLS is controlled by lever DV and by a switch locking relay 55LR so as to be energized only when lever DV is in its normal position 1L.

Referring now to Fig. lb, circuits are here shown including a normal polar contact of polar stick relay RSSHS for controlling an approach locking relay R58ALS and an associated time element device ESTE. Similar circuits are also shown for an approach locking relay LSGALS and its associated time element device ESTE. Approach locking relays R56ALS, LBSALS and LBDALS are controlled similarly to relays RSALS and LBEALS.

Pick-up and stick circuits are shown forcontrolling route locking relays 55WS and 59WS.

Circuits are shown for controlling 'switch locking relays 5'ILR and SSLR.

Having described, in general, the arrangement and control of the apparatus shown by the ac-` companying drawings, I shall now describe, in detail, its operation.

As shown by the drawings, all parts are in the normal condition, that is, switches 55, A51, B51 and 59 are in their normal positions; al1 signals are indicating stop; all track sections are unoccupied, and hence the track relays are energized; each of the levers is in its normal position n; relays RSBRP, LSSRP, EINP, 59NP, SWLS, RESALS, R58ALS, L58ALS, LISGALS, LBSALS, 55WS, 59WS, 5lLR and ESLR are energized; normal polar contacts of relays R58HS and LSSI-IS are closed; and relays 55RP, MRP and 59RP, and indication lamp 59E are deenergized.

The circuit by which relay 59NP is energized passes from terminal B of a suitable source of current, through contact 4 of switch 59 in its normal position, contact 'I of relay 59WLS, and the winding of relay 59NP to terminal N of the same source of current. l

The circuit by which relay R58RP is energized passes from terminal B, through contact 8 operated by signal RB58, contact 9 operated by signal RABS, and the winding of relay RSSRP to terminal N.

Both a pick-up and a stick circuit are closed for energizing relay SQWLS, the pick-up circuit passing from terminal B, through contact I0 of lever DV, contact I I of relay ESLR, and the winding of relay ESWLS to terminal N. The stick circuit for this relay passes from terminal B, through Contact IU of lever DV, contact I2 of relay EQWLS, and the winding of relay 59WLS to terminal N.

Both a pick-up and a stick circuit are closed for energizing approach locking relay R58ALS, shown in Fig. 1b, thepick-up circuit for this relay passing from terminal B, through contacts I3 and I4 vof relays R'l-IS 'and RSBRP, respectively,

vcontact R58AR-I5, yand the winding of relay R58ALS to terminal N. The stick circuit for relay RSALS is the same as the pick-up circuit just traced except that it includes the front point of contact I'I o f relay R58ALS instead of Relay LGBALS is energized by circuits which fare similar to the circuits just traced for relay lRSSALS.

Pick-up and stick ycircuits are closed for energizing relayV 55WS, the pick-up circuit passing from terminal B, ythrough contact I9 of relay REBALS, contact ESTR-20, and the winding of relay 55WS to terminal N. The stick circuit is the same as the pick-up circuit just traced except thai'JVV it includes contact 2| Aoi relay 55WS instead of contact 55TR-20. Pick-up and stick circuits are also closed for energizing relay 59WS, the pick-up circuit passing from terminal B, through contact 2-'2' of relay 55WS, contact 24 of relay REBALS in multiple with contact 25 of relay E'INP, contact V5'I'VIR-26 in multiple with contact 2'! of relay E'INP, contact 59TR-28, and the winding of relay 59WS to terminal N. 'Ihe stick circuit *closed for thisA relay passesrfrom terminal B, through'contact 22 of relay 55WS, contact 2li` of lrelay R58ALS in multiple with contact 25 of relay 51NP, contact 29 of relay 59WS, and the winding of relay 59WS to terminal N.

Switch locking relay 59LR, is energized by a circuit passing from terminal B, through contact 3F) of relay LSUALS, contact 3| of relay LBBALS, contact 59TR-32, contact 55TR-34, contact 35 of relay 59WS, and the winding of relay' 59LR to terminal N. Relay 51LR is also energized by a `circuit including the circuit for relay 59LR,

2,51 li'zeoas -far as, @Ontact 35 cf`VV- relay 1 59WS, andl then passing through contact 36 of. relay L58ALS, coni tacts 31 of relay R58ALS and 51TR-38, `and the winding ofrelay 51LR to terminal N.

I shall assume that the dispatcher of leverman decides to arrange a route for a train to movefrom signal RB58 over switches A51, `B51 and 5.9 reversed. Hewill, therefore, move lever 59V to its r positionthus closing contact 44` ofY lever 59V in its reverse. position ior energizing apparatus C through contact 4D of relay 59LR for operating motor M for reversing switch 59. When switch 59 leaves its normal position, relay 59N? becomes deenergized VIby the opening of` contact 4 of switch 59.

Lamp ,59E now :becomes-energized by a circuit passing from terminal EB ,oifa suitable source ofcurrent, through contact 42 of relay 59RP, contact 43 of lever 59VV in its r position, and lamp 58E to terminal EN ofthe same source of current.

.As soon as switchn59reachesits reverse posi, tion, relay 59RP becomes'ene'rgized by a circuit passing from terminal B, through contact 4 of switch 59, contact 6l of relay 59WLS, and the Winding of relay 59RP to terminal N. Relay EER?, upon thus becoming "energized, opens, at its contact 42, the circuit previously traced for lamp 59E, causing lamp 59E to be extinguished. The leverman will eifect operation oi switches A51 and B51 to the reverse position by manipulation of a similar switch control lever, not shown in the drawings.

He will then move'lever 58V to its r position, thereby effecting energization of-relay'R58I-IS by current of reverse polaritythrough contact 45 inA its r position. Relay RMI-IS, uponthus becoming energized, will open its contact I3 in the circuit previously traced for relay `R58ALS, causing this' relay to become deenergized. With relay R58ALS as well as relay 51N? now deenergized, the cir-V cuits previously traced for relay 59WS wll'be opened at contacts 24 and 25 of relays R58ALS and 51NP, respectively, causing relay 59WS to become deenergized. With relay ,59WS thus deenergized, the circuits previously traced for relays 51LR and 59LR `will be opened at contact 35 of relay EWS, and the circuit forV relay 51LR' 51RP and LSBALS, respectively, and the mech` anism of signal RB58 to terminal N. Signal RB58, upon being operated to the proceed position, opens its contact 8, thereby deenergizing relay R58RP.

A train, upon arriving on section R58AT, will deenergize relay R58AR, and upon passing signall RB58, will deenergize relay 51TR. Relay 51TR, upon becoming deenergized, will open the circuit traced for signal RB58 through contact 51TR-50, causing signal RB58 to change from the proceed indication to the stop indication. Relay R58RP will then again become energized by the circuit previously traced. Relay R58IIS, being of the polar stick type, even though it should in some way become deenergized, will not again close its' Contact la in the. circuits for relay RsaALs anni the leverman takes action to return'lever- 58V to its n position. s

If the leverman returns lever 58V to its 11. position whilethe-,tra'in ison section 51T, relay RBALS Will become energized b y a second pickup circuit Which is ,the same as the pick-up circuit previously traced except that it includesv contact 51TR-l 5 instead oi contact R58AR-I5. With relay R58ALS energized, contact 49 of relay R58ALS, as well as c0ntact51TR-5, will now be opened inthe control circuit for` signal RB58. With relay R53ALS kagain energized, contact 24,V of relay R58ALS`will be closed in the circuits previously traced for relay EHWS, and this relay will then become energized when the train has passed through sections 51T and 59T, and contactsi51Tlt--26 `and 59TR-28 Will have completed'y the pick-up circuit for relay 59WS. With relay 59WS energized, the circuits previously traced for relays 5'FLR and ESLR will also again. be

closed, and the `pick-up circuit vfor relay FJQWLSl will also be closed. Y

I shall now assume that the leverman clears signal RB58 as before,v and that a trainman re-f verses lever DV to provide for manual operation of switch 59 by lever MV. Lever DV, upon being moved to its r position, will open its contact l, thereby deenergizing relay 59WLS. Relay BQWLS, upon becoming deenergized, opens the circuit previously traced for relay 58RP through contact 5i. Relay 59RP, upon .becoming deener-j gized, will open the circuit traced for signal RB58 through contact 4 1 of relay 59E?, causing the arm of signal RB58 to change from the pro- @eed to the stop indication. with relay seas" deenergized, the circuit previously traced for energizing lamp 59E' through contact 42 of relay, 59RP will again be closed, causing lamp 58E to R58ALS will be open, and therefore a circuit Will now be completed for energizing time element device 58TE, this circuit passing from terminal B, through contacts I3 and i4 of relays R58HS and R58RP, respectively, back point of contact l1 of relay RiBALS, and time element device 58TE to terminal N. Upon the lapse of a measured period of timerdevice 58TE, will close its contact I8, thereby completing a third pick-up circuit for relay R58ALS, which is the same as the pick-up circuit first traced for this relay except that it includes Contact I8 of device 58TE instead of contact R58AR-l5. Relay SSWS and, in turn, relay 5SLR will then become energized.

With relay 59LR again energized, the pick-up circuit traced for relay 59WLS will become closed, and relay 59WLS will therefore again become energized and complete the circuit for' energizing relay 59RP. With relay 59RP again' energized, the leverman can now again clear signal RB58 by reversing lever 53V.

From the foregoing description, it follows that when a trainman restores lever DV to its n position, leaving switch 59 reversed after he is through operating switch 59 manually, relay 59RP cannot pick up until relay 59WLS has be-A 7g.. come energized, and 'relay 59WLS cannot become energized until relay 59LR is again energized. Relay 59LR., in turn, cannot become energized until relay 59WS is energized, and relay 59WS can become energized only after energization of relay R58ALS when relay REBHSI has been energized by current of normal polarity.

When signal RB58 has been caused to indicate stop by operation of lever DV to arrange switch 59 for manual operation, and later switch 59 is again arranged for operation by motor M, manual action is therefore required of the leverman to restore lever 58V to its n position before signal RB58 can again be cleared and before the leverman can again effect operation of switches 51 and 59. It will be noted that lamp 59E will remain lighted from thetime the dual control lever DV is reversed until it is restored to the normal position, and lever 58V is again returned to its n. position.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of apparatus embodying my invention, it is understood that various changes and modications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. In combination, a railway track switch, power apparatus manually controllable from a remote point for at times operating said switch from each of its extreme positions to the other, manual apparatus for at other times operating said switch, selector means for transferring operation of said switch from said power apparatus to said manual apparatus and from said manual apparatus to said power apparatus, a switch locking relay, means for normally energizing said switch locking relay but controlled to become deenergized whenever any signal is cleared for directing a train to proceed over said switch and to then remain deenergized until the train has passed said switch, a locking stick relay, a pick-up and a, stick circuit for said locking stick relay each including a contact closed by said selector means when said selector means is arranged for power operation ofy said switch and said pick-up circuit also including a front contact of said switch locking relay, and clearing control means for a Asignal governing trailc movements over said switch controlled by a front contact of said locking stick relay.

2. In combination, a railway track switch, manually controllable power apparatus for at times operating said switch between its extreme positions, manually operable apparatus for at other times operating said switch, selector means for transferring operation of said switch from each said apparatus to the other, a normally energized switch locking relay, means for deenergizing said switch locking relay if any signal is controlled to direct a train to move over said switch, means for retaining 'said switch locking relay deenergized if a train occupies the route governed by said signal between said signal and said switch, a locking stick relay, a pick-up and a stick circuit for said locking stick relay each controlled by a contact closed by said selector means lwhen said selector means is arranged for operation of said switch by said manually controllable power apparatus and said pick-up circuit also controlled by a, front contact of said switch locking relay, and clearing 8 control means for said signal including a front contact of said locking stick relay.

3. In combination, a given railway track switch located in a given track section which is included in each of a plurality of tramo routes over a track layout which embodies a plurality of track sections and track switches, manually controllable power apparatus for at times operating said switch between its extreme positions, manually operable apparatus for at other times operating said switch, selector means for transferring operation of said switch from each said apparatus to the other, a normally energized switch locking relay, a signal for each of said routes for governing traic movements over its route, signal control means for each of said signals which upon being operated to control the associated signal to display a proceed indication deenergizes said switch locking relay, means for then retaining said switch locking relay deenergized while a train occupies any associated route between its signal and said given switch, a locking stick relay, a pick-up and a stick circuit for said locking stick relay each closed only if said selector means is arranged for operation of said switch by said manually controllable power apparatus and said pick-up circuit also controlled by a front contact of said switch locking relay, and signal clearing control means including a front contact of said locking stick relay.

4. In combination, a railway track switch, manually controllable power apparatus for at times operating said switch between its extreme positions, manually operable apparatus for at l other times operating said switch, selector means for transferring operation of said switch from each said apparatus to the other, a switch locking relay, an approach locking relay, a signal for governing traffic movements over said switch, a manually controllable polar stick relay, -energizing circuits for said approach locking relay including a normal polar contact of said polar stick relay, a circuit for energizing said switch locking relay controlled by a front contact of said approach locking relay and closed only if the route governed by said signal is unoccupied between said switch and said signal, a locking stick relay, a pick-up circuit for energizing said locking stick relay only if said selector means is arranged for operation of said switch by said manually controllable power apparatus and if said switch locking relay is energized, a stick circuit for retaining said locking stick relay energized when said switch locking relay becomes deenergized, and clearing control means for said signal controlled by a front contact of said locking stick relay and by a reverse polar contact of said polar stick relay.

. 5. In control apparatus for a railway track switch associated with a signal for governing traic movements over said switch, in which operation of said switch by manually controllable power apparatus or by manually operable apparatus is selected by a dual control selector lever, the combination comprising, a switch locking relay. a normally energized approach locking relay, a locking stick relay having a pick-up and a stick circuit -each of which is controlled by a contact of said dual selector lever closed only when said switch is arranged for power operation and said pick-up circuitv also controlled by a front contact of said switch locking relay, a manually controllable device operable to a reverse position for clearing said signal only if said locking stick relay is energized, means controlled by said manually controllable device for deenergizing said approach locking relay when said signal is cleared and requiring a manual operation for restoring said manually controllable device to its normal position in order to again energize said approach locking relay, and control means for said switch locking relay including a front contact of said approach locking relay.

6. In control apparatus for a railway track switch associated with a signal for governing traffic movements over said switch, in which operation of said switch by manually controllable power apparatus or by manually operable apparatus is selected by a dual control selector lever, the combination comprising, an approach locking relay, a locking stick relay having a pickup and a stick circuit each of which includes a contact closed by said dual selector lever when in position for selecting power operation of said switch and said pick-up circuit also controlled by a contact which is closed only if said approach locking relay is energized when said switch is in a route governed by said signal, a polar stick relay, manually controllable means for energizing said polar stick relay by current of normal and reverse polarities, pick-up and stick circuits for said approach locking relay each including a normal polar contact of said polar stick relay, clearing control means for said signal including a reverse polar contact of said polar stick relay and controlled by a front contact of said locking stick relay, and control means for said switch including a front contact of said approach locklng relay.

7. In control apparatus for a railway track Switch associated with control apparatus for a signal for governing traffic movements over said switch, including manually controllable power apparatus for at times operating said switch and manually operable apparatus for at other times operating said switch and including selector means for transferring operation of said switch from each said apparatus to the other, and also including a normally energized switch locking relay together with means for deenergizing said switch locking relay if any signal is controlled to direct a train to move over said switch and means for retaining said switch locking relay deenergized if a train occupies the route governed by w 2,200,857

said any signal between said any signal and said switch, the combination comprising, a locking stick relay, a pick-up and a stick circuit for said locking stick relay each controlled by a contact closed by said selector means when said selector means is arranged for operation of said switch by said manually controllable power apparatus and said pick-up circuit also controlled by a iront contact of said switch locking relay, and means including a front contact of said locking stick relay for controlling said first signal to display a proceed indication.

8. In control apparatus for a railway track switch associated with control apparatus for a signal for governing trailic movements over said switch, including manually controllable power apparatus for at times operating said switch and manually operable apparatus for at other times operating said switch and including selector means for transferring operation of said switch from each said apparatus to the other, and also including a normally energized switch locking relay together with means for deenergizing said switch locking relay if any signal is controlled to direct a train to move over said switch and means for retaining said switch locking relay deenergized if a train occupies the route governed by said any signal between said any signal and said switch, the combination comprising, a locking stick relay, a pick-up and a stick circuit for said locking stick relay each controlled by a contact closed by said selector means when said selector means is arranged for operation of said switch by Said manually controllable power apparatus and said pick-up circuit also controlled by a. front contact of said switch locking relay, and switch indication means controlled jointly by said switch and said locking stick relay.

EARL M. ALLEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,956,831 Brooks et al. May l, 1934 2,060,486 Allen Nov. 10, 1936 Dicke et al. May 14, 1940 

